AI AND ROBOTICS
With the addition of AI-enabled machine vision pick & place robots are able to handle products with more care.
allowing operators to instruct robots without having any specialist coding skills.
A significant impact All of this points to the fact that the use of AI and machine vision technologies is having a significant impact on robotic applications within the confectionery sector, as well as revolutionising processes, including inspection and quality control, sorting, packaging, and supply chain management. “Robotics have a vital role to play in
many areas of confectionery production – from picking & placing to tray loading and carton erection, filling, and closing – agile robot-based systems are now able to take on a variety of tasks in modern packaging lines,” says Daniel Greb, Head of Image Processing at Gerhard Schubert. “AI is important here too as it now forms an integral part of robotic solutions in
ROBOTS, GUIDED BY AI AND MACHINE VISION, ARE MORE FLEXIBLE AND CAN SORT AND PACK CONFECTIONERY ITEMS WITH MINIMAL WASTE AND OPTIMAL SPEED INTO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PACKAGES
packaging applications, with vision systems such as in-line cameras or scanners contributing to object identification and overall product quality. In modern packaging lines, AI-based
vision systems are able to closely interact with robots. “Take a pick & place robot, for example. In order for it to know which products to pick and which to leave out seamless communication with in-line cameras or scanners via real-time bus systems is needed,” says Daniel. “Thanks to the use of bus systems, robots can continuously receive coordinates at two- millisecond intervals. This allows data from up to 10,000 products to be transferred every minute – an absolute must where there is a need to reliably processing large quantities in the shortest possible time.” Continuing the conversation about quality
control Daniel explained how AI-enabled vision systems are lending a helping hand
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025/26 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • 47
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